Several Arsenal players have been on Real Madrid’s radar in recent years.
Mikel Arteta has turned the Gunners into one of the best clubs in the world, and the squad he has built is filled with incredible players.
Most of this current Arsenal squad was involved in the 5-1 hammering of Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.
Some players caught president Florentino Perez’s eye at the time. Declan Rice is one of them.
Is Declan Rice’s new song the best Arsenal fan chant? If not, which is?
Declan Rice, uh huh, uh huh,
I like it, uh huh, uh huh,
Declan Rice, in red and white,
I like it, uh huh, uh huh. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/w3xyF0t0ki— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) January 3, 2026
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Arsenal star Declan Rice is Real Madrid’s ‘dream’ target
Several Arsenal players have been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
William Saliba was firmly on the Galacticos’ radar, and they were dreaming about signing him to solve their defensive issues.
However, the Frenchman rejected Real Madrid and chose to sign a new contract at Arsenal.
After missing out on Saliba, Defensa Central have now claimed that Los Blancos’ new ‘dream’ is to sign Rice from the Gunners.
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
It has been claimed that Perez loves Rice and would be delighted if he could land him for Real Madrid as they look for midfield reinforcements.
The report further says that if there was one player from England the Galacticos’ president would like to sign, it’s Rice, not Manchester City’s Rodri.
However, any move to recruit the Arsenal number 41 has been described as ‘impossible’ because Arteta is completely ‘opposed’ to his departure.
Rice still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract at the Emirates, and the Gunners have an option to extend that by another 12 months.
If Declan Rice was worth £105m in 2023, what would his value be in 2026?
Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images – David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Arsenal need to extend Declan Rice’s contract
It is no surprise at all that Real Madrid are looking at Rice.
The former West Ham man is the best midfielder in the world right now, and he would walk into any team, including the Galacticos.
Arsenal will obviously not entertain any offers for Rice, but with his contract expiring in 2028, talks over a new deal need to take place as soon as possible.
We’re sure Andrea Berta has that on his agenda already, and we expect this deal to be wrapped up before the end of this season.
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